r. sherlock, a. logan (eds): vms deposits of latin america
TRANSCRIPT
BOOK REVIEW
R. Sherlock, A. Logan (eds): VMS Deposits of Latin AmericaMineral Deposits Division, Geological Association of Canada,2000. 641 pp (ISBN 0–919216–72–2) Hard cover, US$ 60
This is a timely volume that brings together a large number ofcontributions from North and South American geologists on thedeveloping VMS districts and deposits in Latin America. The ob-jective of the editors (Ross Sherlock and Amelia Logan) to providea venue for publication on South American VMS, including bothdistrict synthesis papers and deposit-specific studies, and coveringthe full spectrum of the continent from Mexico and the Caribbeanto Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, has certainly been achieved.
A strength of this compilation is that the papers vary fromfairly preliminary regional assessments and deposit descriptions tomore detailed papers, some of which provide an explorationperspective with detailed discovery history case studies, to otherswhich concentrate on the more fundamental aspects of host rockchemistry, isotopes and genetic models of ore deposits. There issomething here for all VMS enthusiasts, whether they be an aca-demic or explorationist.
The editors have used a fairly loose definition for VMS depositsto ensure that all possible occurrences of base metal mineralisationthat occur within volcanic and/or sedimentary sequences arecovered. For example, descriptions of the stratiform Zn–Pb–Ag
Aguilar sedex deposit, volcanic–exhalative (?) tungsten depositsand some Fe–Cu–Au deposits such as La Candeleria are includedeven though many geologists may not consider these deposits tobe of the VMS type. However, I found this to be a useful approachas it was possible to compare information about tectonic settingand geology of the deposits which are clearly volcanogenic inorigin to those which may have related origins, but are of adifferent style.
I was particularly enthused by the papers toward the end of thevolume on newly discovered VMS deposits of the Tierra del Fuegodistrict, Argentina, where outcropping and partially drilleddeposits are described in detail. They give an air of excitementconcerning the potential for future significant discoveries in thisremote district.
I can strongly recommend this volume to those interested inVMS deposits and, in particular, to exploration geologists whoneed to know more about the mineral potential of Latin America.The price is a very reasonable US$ 60.
R. LargeCODES Special Research Centre
University of Tasmania, TasmaniaAustralia
E-mail: [email protected]
Mineralium Deposita (2002) 37: 245DOI 10.1007/s00126-002-0262-y
Published online: 30 January 2002� Springer-Verlag 2002